Minister of State for the FCT, Mrs. Olajumoke Akinjide
Senator Iroegbu
The Federal Capital Administration (FCTA) has disbursed a sum of N2.053 billion, as the combined revenue allocation for the month of August 2012 from the Federation Account Allocation Committee and the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) to the six Area Councils of the FCT.
FCTA, however, earned N1.459 billion from Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) as at September 21, 2012, with the Abuja Geographical Information System (AGIS) being the largest contributor of N652.09 million of the IGR.
This was disclosed by the Minister of State for the FCT, Mrs. Olajumoke Akinjide, during the recent FCT Area Councils Joint Account Allocation Committee (JAAC) meeting in Abuja.
Akinjide said that the allocation represents an increase of N267 million or 15 per cent over the preceding month’s figure of N1.786 billion, adding that FCTA would soon commence biometric audit of all the workers in the Area Councils.
On the revenue allocation, she explained that Value Added Tax (VAT) accounted for the lion share of N1.054 billion of the total allocation to the six Area Councils – Abaji, Abuja Municipal, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje and Kwali.
The minister, who chaired the monthly FCT Area Councils JAAC meeting, disclosed that the Area Councils had received VAT of N796.29 million for the month of July 2012.
“We have gone through the procurement processes and engaged a consultant to undertake a biometric audit of all workers in the Area Councils. We want to ensure that the workers in the Area Councils are genuine and also make sure that they are qualified for the positions they are holding”, she said.
She further disclosed that the statutory revenue allocation was N675.20 million, SURE-P (N113.54 million), refund by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (N23.10 million), FCT Administration’s 10 per cent IGR (N145.92 million) and exchange rate gain of N41.86 million.
She said: "Of the N2.053 billion revenue allocation, the FCTA disbursed N836.24 million to the FCT Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB) for primary school teachers in the six area councils; N95.04 million to FCT Area Councils Pension Board (ACPB) being 15 per cent pension fund as statutorily required, and N20.53 million to FCT Area Councils Service Commission being one per cent training fund, also statutorily required.
“The net revenue allocation of N1.101 billion was shared by the Area Councils, with Abuja Municipal receiving N239.46 million; Gwagwalada, N192.25 million; Bwari, N187.60 million; Abaji, N175.93 million; Kuje, N165.38 million; and Kwali, N141.24 million”.
Akinjide further stated that the Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Finance, paid N113.54 million to the FCT Area Councils; being their share of the SURE-P Programme for August and September 2012.
She explained the distribution of the SURE-P funds thus: Abaji, N13.93 million; Abuja Municipal, N33.54 million; Bwari, N18.58 million; Gwagwalada, N17 million; Kuje, N14.90 million, and Kwali, N15.59 million. She stated that the chairmen of the Area Councils were expected to develop programmes for which the SURE-P funds would be utilised.
“The Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme was designed by the Federal Government to focus on capacity building, wealth creation, and critical infrastructure development”, she noted.
Speaking on the IGR for September, she revealed that Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC) realised N229.93 million; Directorate of Road Traffic Services, N197.30 million; FCT Water Board, N169.80 million; Abuja Environmental Protection Board, N159.08 million; and Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, N23.89 million.
Also, the Secretary of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in FCT and Chairman of Abaji Area Council, Hon. Yahaya Muhammad, who spoke on behalf of the Area Councils’ Chairmen, canvassed a Special Fund from the federal government for FCT development.
Muhammad said: “The Federal Government should give FCT a Special Allocation just like we have for the oil producing areas. We have very difficult terrain in Abuja that deserves special funding. The little resources available to us are however being judiciously utilized on some laudable projects which the Minister would be commissioning very soon”.
The FCT Area Councils JAAC meeting was attended by the Kuje Area Council Chairman, Hon. Danladi Etsu Zhin; Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) Chairman, Hon. Micah Jiba; Bwari Area Council Chairman, Hon. Peter Ushafa; Gwagwalada Area Council Chairman, Hon. Zakari Angulu Dobi; Kwali Area Council Chairman, Hon. J.K. Shazin, and Abaji Area Council Chairman, Hon. Yahaya Muhammad.
Others in attendance at the meeting were: Director of Admin and Finance, Area Councils Service Secretariat, Alhaji Yusuf Tsaiyabu; Auditor General, FCT Area Councils, Dr. Fred Omaka; Special Assistant to the Minister of State on Area Councils, Alhaji Ibraheem Ibraheem; and Special Assistant to the Minister of State on Environment, Mr. Ayo Sotinrin.